naughtier

IPA/ˈnɔː.ti/
IPA/ˈnɑː.t̬i/

naughtier — adjective

  • naughtierpositive
  • naughtierercomparative
  • naughtierestsuperlative

1. A naughty child does things they know they should not — for example, hitting a s

1.形容詞B1
釋義

A naughty child does things they know they should not — for example, hitting a sibling, refusing to tidy up, or saying rude words.

例句

Yuki's little brother was naughty and drew all over the kitchen wall.

collocation: naughty + family member (brother/sister/child)

The teacher told Diego that pushing another child was very naughty.

structure: [action] + was very naughty

同義詞
  • disobedient

    more formal; focuses specifically on not following instructions from an authority figure

  • mischievous

    more playful and cheeky, often amusing rather than truly bad

  • unruly

    describes loud, wild behaviour that is hard to control

  • badly behaved

    broader, more neutral term covering all kinds of poor behaviour

反義詞
  • well-behaved

    direct opposite for children

  • obedient

    focuses on following instructions

  • good

    simple opposite, common in parent–child speech

用法筆記

Subject is typically a child or a pet. Often used by parents and teachers to describe minor wrongdoing, not serious harm or violence.

常見錯誤

❌The criminal was very naughty.
✅The criminal was dangerous.
💡'naughty' sounds childish; it is almost never used for serious crimes or violence.

2. Describes a grown-up breaking a small rule or social expectation in a playful, h

2.形容詞B2
釋義

Describes a grown-up breaking a small rule or social expectation in a playful, humorous way — for example, eating dessert before dinner or telling a cheeky joke.

例句

Ivan felt a little naughty skipping the queue, but the shop was empty.

collocation: felt a little naughty

Zara ate the last biscuit and gave her husband a naughty grin.

collocation: naughty grin / naughty smile

同義詞
  • cheeky

    more about boldness and nerve than rule-breaking

  • impish

    suggests playful, elf-like mischief

  • mischievous

    overlaps with child sense but also works for playful adults

反義詞

用法筆記

Always carries a light, humorous tone. Not used for serious wrongdoing — for that, choose words like 'unethical,' 'dishonest,' or 'wrong.'

常見錯誤

❌The CEO was naughty and stole company money.
✅The CEO was dishonest and stole company money.
💡'naughty' for adults implies playful, minor misbehaviour, not serious misconduct.

3. Used about jokes, photos, outfits, or behaviour that playfully point toward sex

3.形容詞B2
釋義

Used about jokes, photos, outfits, or behaviour that playfully point toward sex without being direct — for example, a naughty joke at a party or a naughty costume.

例句

The comedian told a naughty joke that made half the audience blush.

collocation: naughty joke

Amara bought a naughty outfit for the beach that surprised her friends.

collocation: naughty outfit / naughty costume

同義詞
  • risqué

    more directly about sexual content, less playful

  • suggestive

    more neutral and formal

  • racy

    more exciting and deliberately provocative

  • saucy

    old-fashioned, playful term for mildly sexual content

反義詞

用法筆記

Much lighter and more playful than 'erotic' or 'pornographic.' Typically describes jokes, clothes, or photos rather than explicit sexual acts.

常見錯誤

❌The couple had a naughty night together.
✅The couple had an intimate night together.
💡'naughty' in the sexual sense describes suggestive jokes, photos, or clothing, not the act itself.